Reactive sputtering of NbCx-based nanocomposite coatings [Elektronisk resurs] An up-scaling study
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Nedfors, N. (författare)
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Tengstrand, Olof (författare)
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Flink, Axel, 1979- (författare)
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Andersson, A. M. (författare)
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Eklund, Per (författare)
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Hultman, Lars (författare)
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Jansson, U. (författare)
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Linköpings universitet Institutionen för fysik, kemi och biologi (utgivare)
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Linköpings universitet Tekniska högskolan (utgivare)
- Publicerad: Elsevier, 2014
- Engelska.
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Ingår i: Surface & Coatings Technology. - 0257-8972. ; 253, 100-108
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Sammanfattning
Ämnesord
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- Nanocomposite Nb-C coatings, with a C/Nb ratio of 0.93-1.59, have been deposited by reactive sputtering in a commercial sputtering system where the C is supplied from an acetylene gas at deposition rates of up to 200 nm/min. The coatings are compared to non-reactively sputtered Nb-C coatings deposited from Nb and C targets in lab-scale equipment at deposition rates two orders of magnitude lower. X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and electron microscopy are used to conclude that all coatings consist of nanoctystalline Nbc(x) grains (nc-NbCx) embedded in a matrix of amorphous C (a-C). The coating performance was evaluated in terms of their mechanical, tribological, and electrical properties. The chemical stability of the coatings was evaluated by exposure to a flowing mixture of corrosive gases. It is found that the coatings have comparable microstructure and performance to the coatings deposited by non-reactive sputtering. The high deposition rate and presence of different C-radicals on the coating surface during film growth for the reactively sputtered coatings are believed to result in a smaller NbCx grain size compared to the non-reactively sputtered coatings (reactive process: 10-3 nm, non-reactive process: similar to 75-3 nm). This difference results in a thinner a-C matrix of about 0.2 nm, which is not varying with C content for the reactively sputtered coatings. The thinner a-C matrix is reflected in coating properties, with a higher conductivity and slightly higher hardness. The coating richest in C content (C/Nb ratio 1.59) shows the lowest friction (0.23), wear rate (0.17 x 10(-6) mm(3)/mN), and contact resistance before (11 m Omega at 10 N) and after (30 m Omega at 10 N) the chemical stability test. These results imply that nc-NbCx/a-C coatings of this composition are a good candidate for electrical contact applications, and that up-scaling of the process is achievable.
Ämnesord
- Natural Sciences (ssif)
- Physical Sciences (ssif)
- Naturvetenskap (ssif)
- Fysik (ssif)
Indexterm och SAB-rubrik
- Thin film; Carbide; Electrical contacts; Contact resistance; Friction
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Surface & Coatings Technology